Night Runner by Tim Bowler
OUP £6.99/ebook £6.99, Age 12+
BOWLER is masterly at creating tension, and Night Runner is a sharp, suspenseful thriller in a setting of urban deprivation. Teenage Zinny has irresponsible parents, and a habit of playing truant. He is avoiding the school bully and hiding out at home when an intruder sets in train terrifying events in which both his and his parents’ lives are threatened. Pursued by menacing strangers, using his skills as a runner to save his life, and trapped by dangerous deals, Zinny comes to a new understanding of the people around him, working through his own anger and his fear. Filmic, succinct and well crafted, with a hero who commands our sympathy, this high-octane adventure in a low-life world has heart.
Nicolette Jones